Huanggang Port Customs affiliated with Shenzhen Customs seized 8,102 cartons of smuggled cigarettes on Monday.

The customs officers found the cigarettes in a van with a Hong Kong license plate. A declaration had been made that the van was carrying 5.4 tons of plastic handles.

During an inspection officers found boxes containing the handles but on closer examination saw boxes with red marks in which they discovered 18 brands of cigarettes, including Marlboro, Zhongnanhai and Double Happiness.

Authorities suspect that the cigarettes are counterfeit, and the case has been handed over to the anti-smuggling department of Shenzhen Customs.